Abstract: A system and method of operation of an image processing system includes: an imaging device for receiving a source image; a mode module for receiving a random access block of an integral image formed by summing a portion of the source image, and for calculating a chosen mode and a quantization number from the random access block; a quantization module for forming a quantized block by shifting the random access block based on the chosen mode; a predictor module for calculating a predictor block based on the quantized block; and a fixed length coding module for calculating a residual block by subtracting the predictor block from the quantized block, for calculating a fixed length coding residual based on the chosen mode and the residual block, and for forming an image bitstream having the quantization number and the fixed length coding residual.

Abstract: A system and method of operation of an image processing system includes: an imaging device for receiving a source image; a mode module for receiving a random access block of an integral image formed by summing a portion of the source image, and for calculating a chosen mode and a quantization number from the random access block; a quantization module for forming a quantized block by shifting the random access block based on the chosen mode; a predictor module for calculating a predictor block based on the quantized block; and a fixed length coding module for calculating a residual block by subtracting the predictor block from the quantized block, for calculating a fixed length coding residual based on the chosen mode and the residual block, and for forming an image bitstream having the quantization number and the fixed length coding residual.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for enhanced encoding of RGB images is presented. The use of intra-plane prediction, which relies on correlation between neighboring pixels of the same color, is enhanced by adding inter-plane prediction that relies on correlation between neighboring pixels of different colors. Inter-plane prediction is performed on at least one of the colors, and more preferably two of the colors, such as R and B, based on input from G. In at least one embodiment, multiple encoding modes are provided, in which different colors from the RGB image are differently coded with either pulse code modulation (PCM), or differential pulse code modulation (DPCM) at a given quantization level (qn). The quantization level and selection of mode being determined for optimizing coding (e.g., based on bit coverage).

Abstract: A communication system and the method of operation thereof includes: a block size unit for receiving an input digital data stream; a progressive-Golomb encoder, coupled to the block size unit, for encoding a progressive-Golomb codeword from the input digital data stream; and a transmitter unit, coupled to the progressive-Golomb encoder for transferring the progressive-Golomb codeword to an output device.

Abstract: In the inventive embedded block coding (EBC) image coding system, sub-block partitioning is selected based on the image content. For example, decisions based on image content can include spatial considerations, such as differences between the right and left portions of the block, texture differences or color component differences. The inventive method then shares the available bit budget between these partitioned sub-blocks.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for performing variable length coding (VLC) within an adaptive entropy image coding process are presented. VLC is performed using a progressive coding technique, such as progressive Golomb coding (PGC) whose operation is based on a set of parameters. Grouping is performed within image distribution contexts, such as number of quantized bit planes (qn), previous residual, predictor type, and color, so that each group having similar contexts is associated with a set of progressive coding parameters. The grouping can be performed on-line or off-line. In operation, the progressive coding parameters then change in response to changing image distribution contexts toward optimizing image coding, such as increasing peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR).

Abstract: Apparatus and method for optimizing encoding and decoding when using embedded block coding, in which each block is independent coded is described. Instead of coding the whole block in response to a single mode decision, the block is separated into multiple sub-blocks sharing the same block bit budget. A block is divided for example in response to color or spatial considerations. A joint mode decision is then made where mode (DPCM/PCM) as well as qn are independently determined for each sub-block, while optimizing the use of the overall bit budget by sharing bits between the sub-blocks through refinement bits.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for enhanced encoding and decoding of Bayer images is presented. The use of intra-plane prediction, which relies on correlation between neighboring pixels of the same color, is enhanced by adding inter-plane prediction that relies on correlation between neighboring pixels in different color planes (i.e., different colors). The inter-plane prediction is performed within either a single residual computation, or across multiple residual computations, such as generating an intra-predicted set of residuals which are then utilized in computing inter-predicted residuals.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for enhanced encoding of RGB images is presented. The use of intra-plane prediction, which relies on correlation between neighboring pixels of the same color, is enhanced by adding inter-plane prediction that relies on correlation between neighboring pixels of different colors. Inter-plane prediction is performed on at least one of the colors, and more preferably two of the colors, such as R and B, based on input from G. In at least one embodiment, multiple encoding modes are provided, in which different colors from the RGB image are differently coded with either pulse code modulation (PCM), or differential pulse code modulation (DPCM) at a given quantization level (qn). The quantization level and selection of mode being determined for optimizing coding (e.g., based on bit coverage).

Abstract: In the inventive embedded block coding (EBC) image coding system, sub-block partitioning is selected based on the image content. For example, decisions based on image content can include spatial considerations, such as differences between the right and left portions of the block, texture differences or color component differences. The inventive method then shares the available bit budget between these partitioned sub-blocks.

Abstract: A solution is provided to estimate motion vectors of a video. A multistage motion vector prediction engine is configured to estimate multiple best block-matching motion vectors for each block in each video frame of the video. For each stage of the motion vector estimation for a block of a video frame, the prediction engine selects a test vector form a predictor set of test vectors, computes a rate-distortion optimization (RDO) based metric for the selected test vector, and selects a subset of test vectors as individual best matched motion vectors based on the RDO based metric. The selected individual best matched motion vectors are compared and a total best matched motion vector is selected based on the comparison. The prediction engine selects iteratively applies one or more global matching criteria to the selected best matched motion vector to select a best matched motion vector for the block of pixels.

Abstract: Motion estimation is the science of predicting the current frame in a video sequence from the past frame (or frames), by slicing it into rectangular blocks of pixels, and matching these to past such blocks. The displacement in the spatial position of the block in the current frame with respect to the past frame is called the motion vector. This method of temporally decorrelating the video sequence by finding the best matching blocks from past reference frames—motion estimation—makes up about 80% or more of the computation in a video encoder. In this patent disclosure, we define a method of searching only a very sparse subset of possible displacement positions (or motion vectors) among all possible ones, to see if we can get a good enough match, and terminate early. This sparse subset of motion vectors is preselected using prior knowledge and extensive testing on video sequences.

Abstract: A color component predictive method determines a base color component and uses the base color component to compute offsets for other color components. The block is then able to be coded using the base color component and the offsets of the other color components. For decoding, the base color component is used with the offsets to regenerate the other color components.

Abstract: A color component predictive method determines a base color component and uses the base color component to compute offsets for other color components. The block is then able to be coded using the base color component and the offsets of the other color components. For decoding, the base color component is used with the offsets to regenerate the other color components.

Abstract: Techniques and systems for quantization based nearest neighbor searches can include quantizing a set of candidate points based on one or more characteristics of a query point; generating metric values based on the quantized candidate points, respectively, the metric values being indicative of respective proximities between the query point and the candidate points; and selecting one or more of the candidate points in response to the query point based on the metric values. In some implementations, techniques and systems can compress search metric computation resolution by implementing non-uniform scalar quantization within a metric computation process.

Abstract: Motion estimation is the science of predicting the current frame in a video sequence from the past frame (or frames), by slicing it into rectangular blocks of pixels, and matching these to past such blocks. The displacement in the spatial position of the block in the current frame with respect to the past frame is called the motion vector. This method of temporally decorrelating the video sequence by finding the best matching blocks from past reference frames—motion estimation—makes up about 80% or more of the computation in a video encoder. That is, it is enormously expensive, and methods do so that are efficient are in high demand. Thus the field of motion estimation within video coding is rich in the breadth and diversity of approaches that have been put forward. Yet it is often the simplest methods that are the most effective. So it is in this case.